American Idol music videos make me want to puke.

When American Idol started, it was a cute, gimmicky way of thrusting would-be unknowns into the spotlight they deserved and desired. Giving the hometown singer his or her “big break” was pure musical democracy, and I loved it. But it’s no longer a democracy – the judges can “save” one loser they love, and Vote For the Worst keeps the crappy contestants singing way too long.

The record contract isn’t even a great prize – the contestants seem to be under pressure to make the blandest possible music. David Cook, for example: I mourn his his sexy, nice-guy rocker chic. Blake Lewis, oh my. That album should be burned. (Word on the web is his next album will be better, so I’m crossing my fingers for that.)

I always find myself hoping for my favorite singer (Crystal Bowersox, Idol Zero-One… What?) to win second place, like Chris Daughtry did, so she can take her music any fabulous direction she pleases.

But the declining quality of the winners isn’t the worst part of Idol. Nor is it the unfortunate departure of our favorite train wreck, Paula Abdul. No, it’s not even the awful introduction of super-narcissist Kara Dioguardi. Thank goodness for TiVo. I never listen to a word she says. The real, true, horrible proof of the fall of American Idol, the Rome of reality shows, is the latest repulsive music video. (I can’t embed it, so you’ll have to click through to watch.)

The music videos Idol puts out represent all that is wrong with music. They’re not really even music videos. Music videos have quirky guys on treadmills or even rappers with busty girls around them. No – these are glorified Ford commercials. They’re cheesy. They’re tacky. And this past week, there were vampires.

I don’t think it was the garlic pizza that scared them away. I think they realized they were embarrassing themselves and scrammed.

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American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, The Amazing Race…Not one reality TV show has ever captured my interest. When I watch television, I want an escape from reality – - not more of it…Give me a good story, a great script and good acting…. Reality TV is cheap for the networks to produce but it’s cheap storytelling in my opinion. I’m much rather watch Kate Austen than Kate Gosselin….